[anon(4315288)]

I think it is safe to say that BlackBerry Z10 and Z30 sales were disappointing especially when compared to the nice traction the Passport and Classic are getting.

As a result, BlackBerry has put aside the high-end touch screen phone market to focus on their niche market. Can you blame them?

In sorts... you could - their market research may be biased to point towards weak full-touch phones. Let's take a look:

The Z10 was the first BlackBerry 10 OS phone released to the market. As with any new product, traction is difficult to get. By the time people got adjusted to the notion of a revamped BlackBerry image, the Z10 was already out of date (spec wise). End result: lower than expected sales.

Then came the Z30 - a true mobile powerhouse, barely marketed thanks to tightening cash flows, and the parallel release of a Q10 / Q5 shortly prior. End result: lower than expected sales.

So, while the results point in one direction, the very variables that caused the skewed (negative) result have now been fixed. The OS has matured, Z10 and Z30 users are looking for an upgrade, and people (more than ever) are starting to notice BlackBerry. I think it's time for a truly stunning, powerful touch screen device, designed and powered by BlackBerry.

It's time to make head turns, and the longer BlackBerry waits in the full-touch market, the less heads will turn.

Posted via CB10

[OTCHRussell]

I agree. I have Q10, Z10, and Z30. I never thought I could use an all touch phone, but the Z30 changed that! I got it when it went on sale at shopblackberry.com, but would have bought it long before if I could have seen one and tried it at a store!!
I enjoy typing on the Q10, but have to keep changing my hand position to use the touch screen and back for the keyboard. (I have small hands and cannot use any phone one handed). I am also developing arthritis in my thumbs - maybe from so many years on the 9000 and Q10!!!
In any case, when I am ready to upgrade the Z30, I will be looking for a touch screen phone. I sure hope I can stay with BlackBerry!!!

Posted on my Q10

[Aljean Thein]

Well, those are 1-2 year old phones now. So of course the Passport and Classics are getting more attention.

Suffer Now & Live The Rest Of Your Life As A Champion

[Vorkosigan]

The Classic has caused ppl in my office to switch from Apple and android and BBOS. These same ppl never even looked at the Z10 or the Z30.

So maybe their research isn't flawed? Maybe they've just finally found their niche?

Posted via CB10

[anon(4315288)]

I'm not arguing that the Classic and Passport aren't best sellers, and will sell more than full-touch phones (BlackBerry's signature is, after all, a keyboard). However, I was just pointing out that poor Z10 and Z30 sales can be attributed to variables that may no longer exist.

Now that the OS has matured and BlackBerry's reputation is building, it might be worth giving the high-end full-touch market another try, to see how the market responds in optimal conditions.

[TgeekB]

I'm not arguing that the Classic and Passport are best sellers, and will sell more than full-touch phones (BlackBerry's signature is, after all, a keyboard). However, I was just pointing out that poor Z10 and Z30 sales can be attributed to variables that may no longer exist.

Now that the OS has matured and BlackBerry's reputation is building, it might be worth giving the high-end full-touch market another try, to see how the market responds in optimal conditions.

Perhaps, but at what cost? Is now the right time? They appear to be on a track that is getting them out of hot water. Taking a chance for some consumers might have to wait.

Be classically hip with the BlackBerry Classic

[BB_Junky]

Chen and his pals like the keyboards, so slabs won't be deemed a necessity.

[The Commander]

Chen and his pals like the keyboards, so slabs won't be deemed a necessity.

chen had an iphone before he joined BlackBerry

[mmk1954]

The Classic keyboard is what made me switch from the Z10. I switched to the Z10 from the 9810. I really like the Z10 but missed the keyboard. No other phone offers this feature.

Using my BlackBerry Classic :-)

[A_Aviator_A]

Passport and classic were introduced after the market-shift that blackberry has undertaken to become a leaner software company. Keep in mind both phones are niche market phones with controlled inventories. So profits can be realized. This in contrast to the Z10/Q10 which overall were a disaster for Blackberry because they were attempts to cling to the fantasy that Blackberry was still relevant in the consumer market. The Playbook and the Z10 will go in history as crystallization of Blackberry's consumer space demise.

[CDM76]

IMHO BlackBerry should start making just 3 or 4 devices and stop redesigning everything every year.

Have a Passport line, Classic line and an all touchscreen line. And maybe a slider line..... if it pans out.

Posted via CB10

[conite]

There is nothing BlackBerry can make that will "turn heads" in the consumer market. That ship has sailed long, long ago.

Although there are some diehard consumers left (like me), BlackBerry needs to focus on what corporate drones need. I think they've done that - the Classic and the Leap. A couple of low-cost, low-risk (farmed out) devices that they can build cheaply, and will do the job more than adequately.

Throw in a couple of niche, high-end products for the top exec, specialised, and prosumer BYOD lot - Passport and Slider, and I think that's about all they can do.

I would love to be able to make a case for the all-touch slab flagship that I want, but I just can't. I guess I'll have to compromise with the Slider. If they can make it thin and light enough, it may hit two birds with one stone.

Z30STA100-5/10.3.2.281

[hoopitz]

As much as I would love to see BlackBerry dominate the consumer market again, I just don't see it happening. In the same way you are saying that BlackBerry's market research might have been biased, we also need to keep in mind that your (and my) sentiment towards BlackBerry is probably pretty bias, too.

I think that they're on the right path with what they've been doing. Focus on business and let us diehards get our hands on devices.

Posted via CB10

[lnichols]

I think it is safe to say that BlackBerry Z10 and Z30 sales were disappointing especially when compared to the nice traction the Passport and Classic are getting.

As a result, BlackBerry has put aside the high-end touch screen phone market to focus on their niche market. Can you blame them?

In sorts... you could - their market research may be biased to point towards weak full-touch phones. Let's take a look:

The Z10 was the first BlackBerry 10 OS phone released to the market. As with any new product, traction is difficult to get. By the time people got adjusted to the notion of a revamped BlackBerry image, the Z10 was already out of date (spec wise). End result: lower than expected sales.

Then came the Z30 - a true mobile powerhouse, barely marketed thanks to tightening cash flows, and the parallel release of a Q10 / Q5 shortly prior. End result: lower than expected sales.

So, while the results point in one direction, the very variables that caused the skewed (negative) result have now been fixed. The OS has matured, Z10 and Z30 users are looking for an upgrade, and people (more than ever) are starting to notice BlackBerry. I think it's time for a truly stunning, powerful touch screen device, designed and powered by BlackBerry.

It's time to make head turns, and the longer BlackBerry waits in the full-touch market, the less heads will turn.

Posted via CB10

BlackBerry sold 7 Million BB10 devices in FY2015. Passport and Classic are hardly any part of those numbers because they just came out. Most of those had to be all touch. While all touch sales didn't meet expectations, they likely sold way more than they will the Passport and Classic IMHO. The only reason for the sellouts of Passport is because they made so few to control inventory and mitigate the chance for a write down.

If BlackBerry made an all touch device with the Passport internals and 1080 or 1440 screen the sales would dwarf the Passport sales IMHO.

Posted via CB10

[FobiddenRiceman]

Wait for the slider it will be high-end, be 16 x 9 and be unique in it being a slider

"Correct me grammar fascists! I'm ready!"

[IndianTiwari]

Z10 & Z30 infact helped in stabilising the BB10 OS. The product life cycle of any product is very less and these product crossed their prime long time back!! The only silver lining was smooth transition of the of these devices from 10.1 to 10.2 to 10.3. Launches of Passport and Classic came at a time when the BB10 OS had matured.
BBRY now has the right platform to launch the high all touch slider device which I feel will be taken well by the market.

Posted via BlackBerry Passport

[CTU2fan]

I get that Z people want an upgrade, but ask yourself this - if BlackBerry goes all-in on a full touch device, what about it would draw a user away from whatever glass slab (iPone or Android) they're using now? I like BB10, but it's not so amazing that people will sacrifice the app selection they have with their current device to switch to BlackBerry.

If BlackBerry wants to rebound in the consumer market (I'm not convinced they necessarily do, but whatever) they need to come up with something new that will entice people to try it. Not sure what that is, but it's surely not yet another slab that the masses will view as "the phone you get if you can't afford the latest Galaxy or iPhone".

Posted via CB10

[lnichols]

I get that Z people want an upgrade, but ask yourself this - if BlackBerry goes all-in on a full touch device, what about it would draw a user away from whatever glass slab (iPone or Android) they're using now? I like BB10, but it's not so amazing that people will sacrifice the app selection they have with their current device to switch to BlackBerry.

If BlackBerry wants to rebound in the consumer market (I'm not convinced they necessarily do, but whatever) they need to come up with something new that will entice people to try it. Not sure what that is, but it's surely not yet another slab that the masses will view as "the phone you get if you can't afford the latest Galaxy or iPhone".

Posted via CB10

Part of running a business is trying to get new customers, but also keep what customers you have. PKB devices are not going to keep Z users, which is likely their largest BB10 user base currently, on the platform, and neither is the Leap which is a Z10 with a bigger screen and less features. No one has said go all in on all touch, but they need an all touch device with a improved SOC, improved screen, and everything else a Z10/Z30 had in connectivity options to give those users something to upgrade to and stay with BB10, and they need it fast. End of the year won't cut it as that is almost three years after the Z10 and over two years after the Z30. I don't think a slider with a curved screen delivered at the end of the year will be in time or make most of the all touch crowd happy.

A higher end all touch device should be simple to make for them. Passport internals could be used to get economies of scale, all touch panels in 1080 and 1440 should be easy to source. And it will be cheaper for them to build than any PKB device.

Posted via CB10

[Bbnivende]

They need a third way .. BlackBerry apps running on an Android core. They need access to Google Play and there is no substitute.

[conite]

They need a third way .. BlackBerry apps running on an Android core. They need access to Google Play and there is no substitute.

That was already announced - BlackBerry suite of apps (including HUB) that will run on both Android and iOS. Basically a BlackBerry skin for those devices.

Z30STA100-5/10.3.2.281

[Bbnivende]

If it includes a Hub then I might get an Android phone. Just today I had an Android app fail on me today. I had to reload and reboot twice and with a lengthy delay to get it running. If that is the case, I would seriously looking at getting an Android berry Classic.

Posted via CB10

[conite]

If it includes a Hub then I might get an Android phone. Just today I had an Android app fail on me today. I had to reload and reboot twice and with a lengthy delay to get it running. If that is the case, I would seriously looking at getting an Android berry Classic.

Posted via CB10

I don't know how long it will take to get to market, but it will be revenue-generating for BlackBerry - which means it will be a subscription service. We also don't know if it will be limited to BES or not.

Z30STA100-5/10.3.2.281

[MarsupilamiX]

I get that Z people want an upgrade, but ask yourself this - if BlackBerry goes all-in on a full touch device, what about it would draw a user away from whatever glass slab (iPone or Android) they're using now? I like BB10, but it's not so amazing that people will sacrifice the app selection they have with their current device to switch to BlackBerry.

If BlackBerry wants to rebound in the consumer market (I'm not convinced they necessarily do, but whatever) they need to come up with something new that will entice people to try it. Not sure what that is, but it's surely not yet another slab that the masses will view as "the phone you get if you can't afford the latest Galaxy or iPhone".

Posted via CB10

The Classic has caused ppl in my office to switch from Apple and android and BBOS. These same ppl never even looked at the Z10 or the Z30.

So maybe their research isn't flawed? Maybe they've just finally found their niche?

Posted via CB10

As usually:
If BlackBerry is happy with 5M sales a year...
Yeah sure, they found their niche.
Actually so niche, that it might be in the 0.05-0.09% of the total marketshare, in 2017.

I guess those users, are the true 1 percenters.